A mile of the Spanish Moss Trail to be off limits for 2 months. Here’s where and why

For two months, a near-mile stretch of the Spanish Moss Trail will close to allow for the construction of a new fishing pier and fix-ups to an existing pedestrian bridge.

A Beaufort County recreational treasure, the 10-mile trail between Beaufort and Port Royal, takes walkers, runners and bikers through paths that wind along water and marshes. Annually, more than 100,000 residents and visitors use the Spanish Moss Trail.

Beginning May 1, trail enthusiasts will have to dodge a 0.8-mile section of the pathway. The entire stretch between Hermitage Road and Cottage Farm Drive will close as O’Quinn Marine Construction builds a new pier. People using the trail will need to reroute through nearby neighborhoods or go back the way they came.

The planned pier’s location has sweeping views of Battery Creek and is a short distance to the Technical College of the Lowcountry. The existing pedestrian bridge will also be repaired.

Beaufort County’s Capital Projects Department expects the section of the trail to reopen by June 30. However, the completion date is weather and supply dependent.

The county urges Spanish Moss Trail enthusiasts to avoid the section, because construction traffic and staging of materials will be in the way. This ensures pedestrian and contractor safety, the county said in a Thursday news release.

Before heading out on the trail, check the Spanish Moss Trail website for additional closures. For questions or additional information, contact Beaufort County Capital Improvements Projects at 843-255-2707.